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Saturday, July 29, 2006

Ind. Gov't. - South Shore ridership jumps, again

The Gary Post-Tribune reports:

CHESTERTON — Dan Ryan Expressway and Chicago Skyway reconstruction, coupled with gasoline prices that have topped the $3 a gallon mark, have caused another explosion in commuter ridership on the South Shore.

John Parsons, spokesman for the Northern Indiana Transportation District, which operates the South Shore, explained the spike to the NICTD board Friday.

“All three are really impacting ridership this summer,” Parsons said.

Daily weekday ridership during the summer months last year averaged about 13,500, compared to 15,500 this year, a 2,000-per-day passenger increase.

During the Taste of Chicago’s 10-day run, daily ridership last year numbered 13,203, compared to 14,210 this year.

“We should hit 4 million passengers this year,” Parsons said. Going into Week 16 of the Dan Ryan project, weekday ridership is up dramatically over what ridership was before the Dan Ryan project, Parsons said.

NICTD is waiting to hear whether the Indiana Department of Transportation will approve a $31.2 million grant, and from the Regional Development Authority on a $7.8 million grant to purchase 12 passenger cars. If approved, it would take 18 to 24 months for construction and delivery of the cars.

Parsons said the Dan Ryan and Skyway construction projects would likely be completed before the cars arrive, but noted that they would still be needed since there is standing room only on a number of the trains.

Seems like a no-brainer! But also seems like this is moving very slowly. See this ILB entry from April 25th, titled "Ind. Econ. Dev. - The South Shore Line, something that works, and could work even better," which included this quote:
The South Shore owns 68 passenger cars, although several are typically out of service for maintenance.

Plans are in motion to acquire about 12 more cars, but funding has not been lined up, Parsons said. The railroad is seeking about $39 million for the cars from the State of Indiana and a recently created regional development authority, he said.

and also referenced another story of the South Shore's growth and expansion needs from nearly a year ago.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 29, 2006 09:01 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana economic development